Brush sifter



Aprlil 27 1926.

1,582,461 E. GAsE ET AL BRUSH S IFTER Filed Feb. a, 192:5 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a Zw feuer April 27, 1926.

' E. GSE ET AL BRUSH SIFTER Filed Feb. s, 192s s sheets-sheet 2 IN ZEN TORS.

' 9 April H7 i 1926. E. GASEZ Er Al.

BRUSH SIFTER 3 sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 8 1925 Patented Apr. E?,

LSSZAM Perdita?? EUGENE CTASE .AND LOUIS CHARLES REESEQF SAGNAW', MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO BAKER-PERKINS COMPANY,

INC., F W'HTE PLAINS, NEVI YORK.

BRUSH SIFTER.

Application filed February 8, 1923. Serial No. 617,878.

To @ZZ trimm t may concern f Be it known that we, EUGENE Gesu and Louis CHAnLus Russie, both residing in the city of Saginaw, county of Saginaw, and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Brush Sitters, of which the following is a specication.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in sifters, and more particularly to a sifting device in which suitable brushesare disposed within a sifting reel in proximity to a screen, which constitutes the sifting means in the device, the brushes serving to keep the screen clean and to assist in the sifting operation.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means in a sifting device whereby the sifting operation may be performed moreeiiiciently than has heretofore been accomplished. v

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a Vsifting` device for removing inipurities and foreign matter in such a inanner as to be more completely removed therefrom than has been accomplished by devices heretofore employed.

fr further object of the invention is to provide a machine in Vwhich the various parts may be readily and easily adjusted in accordance with thedifferent or various materials to be treated and in which means are provided for counter-acting or allowing for the condition of the brushes and screen,

thereby attaining more uniform results and minimizing the wear and tear on the apparatus, whereby a saving in power, labor and cost of repairs is effected.

The invention comprises a rotary siftingl reel of circular cross section which is preferably in the shape` of a truncatedcone and is adapted to revolve on a horizontal axis. rlhe smaller end of the truncated cone serves as an inlet for material to be sifted and its larger end as an outlet for the waste material or impurities which do not pass through the screen. Vlithin the reel, stationary narrowbrushes are provided which preferably extend the whole length of the. reel, whereby the material may be continuously removed from the screen during its rot-ation. The brushes are preferably made. adjustable in position, and means are provid-ed whereby the bristles ofthe brushes may bemaintained uniformly in contact with theinner surface of the screen. By the means which are provided the action ofthe brushes is more gentle .than in any other sifters heretofore employed, for the reason that the brushes are so disposed as not to crush or violently force material throughthe interstices of the screen whereby the impurities in the material remain on the screen, and arenot forced therethrough together with the material desired. By the means provideo the sifting action serves to loosen or break up thev soft lumps of the flour or other material which have formed therein during storage or transportation, and also to separate the foreign matter or impurities therein, which are invariably harder than the lumps.

ln baiting' operations it is customary to sift the flour employed immediately before passing' it to the lneading machine. sifting flour or similar material by means of a sifter constructed according to the present invention, it is completely loosened, opened up and aerated so as to be prepared for the dough-making operation.

lt is obvious that the pressure with which the bristles of the brushes touch the screen is an important factor in the sifting opera tion with this type of machine. In order to avoid opening up or removing the cover of the machine. each time the brushes are to be adjusted, either during` experiments with thev machine or when the brushes have been suf` ficiently worn as to become unsatsfactory in operation, we employ a very etiiective wedge mechanism bj: means of which the position of the brushes i ay be adjusted, the mecha-V nism benppreterably positioned in the hollow shaft of the siftingl reel and so disposed as to permit adjustment from the exterior of the machine.

The acconipanyingr drawings serve 'to illustrate the novel features, devices and combinations of the invention and the mode of operation thereof, and represent-by way of example, a flour sifter which is adapted to be used in bakeries to cle-an, open up and .az-rate flour before it is passed into the unending apparatus. lVhile the invention is illustrated as adapted particularly for siftflour, it is to be clearly understood that we do not desire to limit the invention 'to .the treatment. of thismaterial alone, nor do' wer desire to limit the invention tothe form and construction shown in the draifiiigs, but it will be evi lent to those skilled in the art that machines maj.'v be Constructed or moditications inajv7 be made iii such a way that thci.v differ only in shape and in details oi'i construction. iiroin the device herein discloseand ma): contain, nevertheless` the essential elements ot the invention as defined in the claims.

lfisi. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section ot the sittingdevice through the axis thereol. in which the brushes are represented as in a worn condition, and the brush-adjusting` means are indicated in the position Jfor coinpensating,` tor the worn condition thereof;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the apparatus, taken through the spider situated at the 'reed end ot' the device;

l1v1 ig. is a vertical cross section 'taken through the spider situated at the waste ontlety end ot the apparatus;

Fie'. 4 is a diagrammatic view ot' the device in which the brushes are disposed at an angle to the axis ot the rcel so as not to lie in the saine plane;

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the'line 5-5 ot 1 showing` the brushes, the brush holders and the brush-adjusting device;

Fig. G is a detail section taken through the hollow shaft on the line G-G of 1;

Fig. T a section through a brush holder taken on the line T-7 ot Fig. 5;

l? S illustrates a iiiodi ication of the brush holding and adjusting" means in which a plurality of brushes and brush-adjusting means are employed.

in the various tigures ot the drawings, the saine reference nume als are employed to indicate correspondingv parts which serve the saine or similar purposes.

eiierring more particularly to the draw- 1 the ret'erence numeral 9 indicates a roi i sitting' reel which is covered by a een l throuffijli which, with the assistance ol stat .r brushes 10, the material to be sitted is passed. rIhe material which passes through the screen 11 drops into a hopperlike coniil'iartnient 1Q ar tinged at the bottoni et the apparatus in the housing` 18 and "es t ierei'troni into a suitable bin or iingihopper, or to the init-ing machine, real while the residue or waste which is retained in the reel passes along the screen 'nto a si aller conpartnient 1draty the end the appa 'atus, troni which it mav be reinoi'ed troni time to time through cover door 15. The reel prefer-bly so .iited as to revolve on a horizontal. axis il is p 'eterabl;7 in the shape ot a` truncated me in iz'hieh the material to be treated is led thereto b v suitable conveying means at l `.aller end ot the. cone, the material irrj led YAhereto through the interstices or iaces between the spokes ot a spider wheel 1G and the waste or residue, being withdrawn troni the reel or screen at the larger end ot the cone between the spokes ol'v a spider .ti positioned at the larger end reel.

The screen 11 tor sitting` material ma)v be ot the made oi wire gauze, silk, lelt or other able material, which may be strc-lcl the rims ot the spider wheels 1C and which it may be suitabliheld` in phice bj.' means ot angle irons 1S which inajv be atached to and extend between the spider wheels. The. angle irons 1S are pie iablj.' arranged in pairs bolted bacl; to bitch and at their ents to the rinis of they wheel-s t rieid contired 16 and 1T in order to attain a struction in the reel body.

.lhe hub o't the spider wheel erablj; attached to a solid sha i carries also the screw conveyor of a screw bolt 1'3, the shatt 2O l ablj: in unted in bearings 21 in the trout l Q2 at the co vevor end ot the housing' l The hub otl the spider wheel l?, on the ether hand, is preferably mounted :3o as to perinit rotation on a stationary.' hollow shaft Q3. rthe shaft 2/l is rigidly s `iied at one end in i l earin C i by ine; .ir a screw bolt Q4, the bearing being preiierabhY n adr` inte gral with the back wall it at oi" the device in the housinU poi-ted or secured at its other e ot the slia'lit 20. li order 'to shaft 2O to serve a a supportii e the stationary shaft l provide 2T between the shaft 2O and the int rior wall o't the shai''t Q?) which is held in plact liv means of suitable sc L through suitable open nos in the sha t Bv the rotation ot the shatt it), the spider wheel 16 fxed thereto is also rotated. causing a rotation of the reel l) and :reen 1l. and the spider wheel 1T. connected thereto. while the shaft- QS remains stationary. the .shalt Q0 rotating within the birshine` in the end ot' the shaft Q3. The material which to be fed to the machine maj: be conducted thereto troni a suitable hopieil i ficheil. tif" example, to the screw convejft adapted to operate in a siiital conijeying tube 30. From th material passes into the reel oi ew bolts n:

l '.l bei' 9 through an opening ll in the trout wall Q2 of the appa "atue, t-lie openiiie harl. liv.

an-`L the wall gg, an annuis provided at the inner loi,

Cil

surface of the front w ll 22 within which the outer part of the spider wheel 16 is adapted to rotate. rlhe outer side of the rim of the spider wheel l? is provided with a suitable annular projection 34 which is adapted to turn in the recess 35 in the edge of the partition wall 37 so as to prevent residue material passing between this spider wheel and the partition wall. 37 into the compartment 12. ln the partition wall 37 is a circular opening 36 through which the waste or residue material passes on its way from the screen to the compartment 14. The diameter of the opening' is preferably substantially the same as that of the inner eircumference of the annular projection 34.

riihe two brushes l0 illustrated in Fig. l are preferably xed in position inside the reel 9 along the wire screen l1 so as to remain stationary during the rotation of the screen. The brushes are arranged preferably in the same vertical plane, one below the other, although l may, in the `sifting'of certain materials, arrange them so as t-o be inclined to each other and out of the plane with the axis of the screen, as shown more particularly in Fig. 4. The brushes are preferably constructed with a narrow wooden bachV 38 in which bristles 39 are set, the brushes being so positioned that their tips will remain in contact with the screen ll. The baclrsSS are preferably bolted to two brac-lret-lilreholders 40 attached to or integral with the tube or c rrier 41 which is preferably rigidly fixed on the stationary shaft 23 by means of a set screw or set screws 49.. lilith the exception of the parts of the backs of the brushes which are held in the. holders 40, the backs comprise two curved sides which converge, forming a sharp edge at the. top,y as shown in Fig. 2, whereby particles dropping thereon will not settle, or sticlr, but will slide off and fall on the screen l1.

l'n cases where impurities contained in the material to be sifted are inclined to adhere to the brushes when placed in a vertical plane as shown in llig. l, we preferably arrange the brushes in a position inclined to the airis of the shaft 23 and out of the plane therewith, as illustrated more particularly in F 4, in which the lower brush is indicated by means of continuous lines, and the upper one by means of dash lines. By this means the material on the screen will be assisted in its movement toward the outlet, and any materal tending to stick to the brushes will be moved gradually toward the outlet.

in order to sift various kinds of material completely, quickly and easily as possible with the type of sifter above described, the form of brush bestsuited to sift the particumaterial to be handled should be'selected Afor the reason that different materials require different ty] es of bristle, particularly as regards elasticity, length, thickness and shape thereof to attain the best results. Moreover, a particular forni of brush operates best with a particular pressure on the siftingscreen, the amount of which depends iartly on the length of the bristle and the distance of the baclr or supporting means for the bristles from the screen.

ln the use of the machine there is more or less wea-r on the bristles due to rubbing against the screen, whereby the pressure of the bristles against the screen gradually diminishes until, without further adjustment, the derice would eventually become substantially inoperative. lt is necessary, therefore, in order to attain satisfactory operation of the device, that the relative position of the bristles to the screen should be regulated or adjusted from time to time. means generally emp-loyed to attain adjustment of the brushes in the sifting art comprises screws or levers which act directly on the brushes and which, in order to adjust, requires dismantling orr partly dismantling the housing to attain access thereto. This operation is tedious and requires a considerable amount of time and labor, particularly when the adjusting operations have frequently to be repeated in order to attain the final adjusted position of the brushes.

ln order to avoid the dismantling of the apparatus of the present invention to attain the proper set of the brushes, we preferably employ adjusting means comprising a hollow shaft adapted to contain a mechanism for controlling the position of the brushes which may be adjusted and operated by suitable means outside the machine, and in this way we entirely avoid the dismantling or part dismantling of the apparatus to attain the adjustment. The means which we employ for this purpose comprises holders 4() which are preferably constructed with the use of channels 43 to which the backs 3S of the brushes lO may be rigidly attached by means of bolts 44, for example. rlhe holders 40 are preferably held in position by means of a suitable holding device or tube 4l whichis preferably. provided with two outwardly extending branches 46 having openings 4T therein in which rods suitably attached to the channels 43, are adapted to fit and be held in position. The rods 45 are preferably made integral with the channels 43, and are preferably square in cross section and rounded at the ends thereof. rlhe holding meansor tube 4l has-a central opening therethrough so as to lit upon the shaft 23 upon which it may be held in position by suitable means such as a set screw 42, for example. ln the walls of the hollow shaft 23, we provide openings or holes 48 which are preferably slightly .larger in cross section than the'rods 45andnlaced diametrically opposite each other in the The 9 the jv' shle therem tion nt right :mg ks in order t0 hol@ ne we( f nur" Muzik mei' tauleoi A t c mmm #www wd is preferably Connected 5to th in Wh ch ud of the rod is provided with `:1 u m' nui' 5S nt the end pwjffcng the homing lmu he sha1 f' L muy b@ reim means of a k jc, 'or @Km D 9,' so as to move and adjus; ih@

to that of the wedge G6 and at rig` t angles to the fedge 67. The wedges and the c nectino' rods are preflrably made inten' although he parts may be separately c nected if desired. The guides (39 are preferably attached at one end to the block fired to the shaft 23 by means of a Y bolt 2st,' and at the other end thereof to a disk 74, fixed to the shaft 533 by means of a screw 75, and provided at its center with an opening 75 in which the rod ada ed to slide. The guides T() are preicrably fixed at one endL to the disk Tl. and at the other end to a disk i?, which may be fastened to the shaft QS by means of a screw '78 and in which an oiening 79 thro i which the rod 73 is adapted to or te more during the adjustment of the holding'y device. The guides ll are fired at one end to the disk T7 and at the other end to a disk 80, fixed to theshaft 23 by means 'a screw 8l. The distance of the bar from the disk -l and the distances of the disks il, 77 and SO-froin-each other are so adjusted as to give ample room for the movement of the wedges 68, 6? and 68 rc" ectively. .it is to be understood that any su table number of brushes, brush holders and adjusting wedges may be employed which may be arranged in a manner similar that shown and described in connection with Fig. 8.

life claim:

l. In a machine of the kind described, a sifting,` reel in the form of a truncated cone with open ends, means for feeding' material to be sifted to the smaller end of said cone, means for removing' the waste residue from the said cone at the larger end thereof, means for rotating the said reel on a horizontal axis, a stationaryY brush supported within the said reel and extending substantially the length of the inner surface of the said reel on one side of said axis, a second stationary brush extending substantially the length of the inner surface of the said reel on the other side of said axis, and means for maintaining said brushes in proximity to the inner surface of said reel during the rotation thereof.

2. In a machine of the kind described, in combination. a rotatable sifting reel having the shape of a truncated cone, the material to be sifted entering,- at its smaller end and the waste residue leaving at its wider end, stationary br shes provided inside the sait reel for its surface to be swept while passing,- across the same, and a screw conveyor' for passing the material to be sifted into the said reel, the shaft of the said conveyor being' extended inside and coaXially to the said reel and serving to rotate the same.

3. In a machine of the kind described, in combination a siftingreel having' the shape of a truncated cone, a smaller spider wheel supporting the smaller end of the said reel,

theA material to be sifted entering,l between its spokes, a larger spider wheel supporting` the wider end of the said reel, the waste residue leaving' between its spokes, a driving' shaft to which the said smaller spider wheel is rify diy fixed, a stationary7 hollow shaft partly surrounding the said drivingl shaft and rerolubly carryingl the said larger spider wheel, brushes arranged along the inner surface of the said reel, and adjiustablc,holders fixing the said brushes to the stationary shaft.

ln a machine of the kind described, in combination a sifting reel, stationary brushes arranged therein to sweep its inner surface, holders supporting the said br ishes, a hollow shaft arranged coaxially to the said reel, the said shaft having openings in the wall thereof at points correspending` tothe position of said holders, an adjusting device contained in the said hollow shaft -and adapted to act through the said openings on the said holders, and means for operating; the said adjusting' device from the end of the said hollow shaft outside the machine.

ln a machine of the kind described, in combination a sifting' reel, brushes arranged therein to sweep alongl its inner surface, holders supporting` the said brushes, a hollow shaft arranged coaxially to the said reel, the said shaft having openings in the wall thereof at points corresponding to the position of thesaid holders, wedges disposed within the said hollmY shaft and adapted to act through the said openine's on the said holders and thus to. adjust the said brushes` and means for operating' the said wedges from the end of the said hollow shaft outside the machine.

G. In a machine of the kind described, in combination a sift-ing reel and two brushes within said reel arranged opposite to each other and adapted to sweep along' the inner surface of said reel, two supports, each of which is fixed to one of said brushes, two angular rods forming` part of thc said supports and arranged at right angles tothe axis of said reel, a hollow shaft positioned coaxially to the said reel, the said shaft haring' two openings in the wall thereof and opposite to each other, corresponding in position with that of said angular rods, two hollow lguides for the said rods in registration with the said openings, an equilateral wedge within said hollow shaft, means for moving said wedge to and fro within said hollow shaft so that the inclined faces of the wedge may pass underneath the said openings in the direction of the axis of the said shaft, and means for operating the said wedge from the end of said shaft outside of the machine, the length of the said rods being such that their -free ends rest on the front edge of the said wedge when the tips of the bristles of the said brushes, when'new, just Cil lill) lll) Cil

touch the in ier surface of the said reel7 and sure oi the said. a rr'n .l C l L l l( i e the total inclination of the slanting,` surfaces V1o` n.' shaft outside the nnrehiiie. ol' tre said Wedge and the distances of the 9. i 1 a machine oj the knul described, in '.--\q f "l x- "1 1 .i L lai of" n 10* i* /111H\*: fr Q1 si n .ol/. or ie saro 1o om gui( es loin L 1e Lomb eoin,.,.n-1on .ilD AeV A in,r in, e npe or the said reels at which thej,v are joinetl ol' :i truncatedL eene, a smaller ider Wheel 55 to he saicl supports, h ing sneh tha y the total e sanl reel adjustment of the [il a larger e ent of the possil `e sa (l brushes is praetie Allv equal to the length lapteil to support the lm' ef the bristles thereof. reel t n'hnh wast T. ln i riheal. in n irangeil.

rra ll o ii ine saiil housing` ine; smaller spieler wheel to .said (lr-1:.. a holler: .stationary shaft in fl with. sahl driving shalt.

ring a here oi sli;

shal.

forming l ranged at reelA` a hollov,v t y the saial reel, n'eilg'es slirlah Y arranger. n shaft h the said` latter shalt, one

lixeel ronrrl Y rods to '"f" or the rl in ing' snrh. l :rough aft fihi: e saiil hollow guides l oneV tk a suppe -olorc "Q mrt on rarrai eil zi the opposite n'rl o the l 75 the said hollo'f.v i i A z il 'faces oi lhe saiil We l hey rest on the housing and carrying; the enil ol saziil hollovl `front eiln'es of the laL er, when the tips of shalt onsi-ile of ihe saitl reel, aro hrnhee islleff. of the said nnsoes, hein` new7 arranged opposite to eaeh other along the l o saiil re 1, tivo supports. one

ritl hrnshes, two rozls, eaffh 80 part of the saiil supports,

heing arranged tantially saifl holl'` shaft two inst toneh the said reel. resilient means for inner si holding l 1 of lhe saicl rods against the ineline( surfaces or' the said Wedges, :mil means lor moving the Wedges the sa@ fo as to adjust the ,said lf'aishes fro n the enel at rig; I @les lo of the saicl hollow sh `it outside the inaenine. l r'rle, in the raid hollen: ,sha

S. ln a i'imehine oli the hin( tleserihetl, ii other en sponion; S5 combination :1 sir reel` brushes arranged sauf. rxo hollherein to sweep along its inner surface, f ioils reo-merino with holders supporting; the sairl brushes, a lio said openings. en eil ilateral Wedge slitlahly lon shalt arranged eoainlly to the said arrangeil within .sain hollonv shalt anil reelr the sairl she-:ltharing openings pr' adapted to snppor the said rods at the Vl'ree 'JU Yitlefl in the Wall thereof at L)oints eorreends thereoli tl length of the rozl l r sponrling lo the `position of the Saicl holders, such *ha e Wedges i -ioserl within said hollow shaft on the. fr

unl aflaiate-gl to oi, ;erate the il holders to tips oi" adjust the said hrnshes, a spring' lixetl at one encl to the said hollow shaft and atA the other end. lo the said brushes, the teleseop- Wedge from the e" ing housing enclosingthe said spring for outside the n schine.

protection against clust, and means for op- EUGENE @ASB erating the Coi-el redges against the pres- LOUXS CPLRLES 

